Chain-making machine.



F. SPEIDEL.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912.

1,054,466. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. SPEIDEL.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.19, 1912.

1,054,466, Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-BHBET 2.

BgJ-l: 1 Fig.5.

F. SPEIDEL.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1912. 1,054,466,Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

3 BHBBTB-BHBET 3.

Egm. F1 Ab. Fig/M. Ti .4'.

FRIEDRICH BPEIDEL, OF PFORZHEIM, GERMANY.

CHAIN-MAKING ma'cnnm.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Application tiled September 19, 1918. Serial No. 721,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fmnnnlcn Seaman, a subject of the German Emperor,residing at Pforzheim, in Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chain- Making Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

he object of the resent invention is to provide an improve machine formakin chains whereof the links have the shape the figure 8.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyi'inr drawing in which-Figure l is an elevation of the machine, Fig. 2 a plan view of: part ofthe machine, Fig. 3 a sectional view of the preliminary blank-formindevice, and Fig. 4 an elevation of this evice; Fig. 5 shows a device forholding the chain during insertion of the newly formed link, and igs. 6and 7 illustrate the manner in which the newly formed links are insertedand joined; Figs. 8. 9 and 10 are sectional views of a presserperforming part of the link-forming o eration; Fig. 11 illustrates theaction 0 a inksoldering a pliance' Fi 12 is a plan view of the a p iancewhere y a newly formed link is twisted in the form of a figure 8. Figs.13. 14, and 15 illustrate the completion of the freshly inserted link.Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate a modification in the manner of forminthe link, Figs. 19, 20 and '21 being sectional views of a presser usedin this modification.

The machine com )rises a guide I) through which the wire a is ed to asaw 15, which cuts off a len th of wire sullicient to form a link of thec ain. The piece of wire 9 cut off (the blank) is seized by a rotatableand axially movable ripper 1 and drawn outward, in a lateral direction,between two guideeheeks so that the wire is bent into an apn'oximatelyU-shaped form; Fig. 4 shows ior this purpose two guide-cheeks of unequallength, whereby the blank 13 given limbs of unequal len th. The gripper1 then transfers the blan g to a second gripper 2 (Fig. 5) which holdsthe last of a series of previously formed links It in a planeperpendicular to that of the blank g. The grip r 1 pushes the limbs ofthe blank g througi the eyes of the link It held by the gripper 2 asshown in Fig. 6 and the blank is bent to form an elon ted link 9 asshown in Fig. 7. This is e acted by bending the longer limb of the blankaround a shank l:

by means of a former e, as shown in Figs. 8, and 10. The two grippers 1and 2, which are mounted upon a spindle, then transfer the lings g and hto a solderin u pliance p (Fig. 11) by means of whic t e joint of thelink g 13 soldered. Then the grippers are swung o posite a gripper 3(Fig. 12) which seizes t e projecting part of the link g, whereupon thegrippers 1 and 3 are rotated in opposite directions throu h whereby theink g is twisted into t e shape of the. figure 8, to form a finishedlink It as shown in Fi 13. The gripper 2 then releases the link which ithas been hold ing, rotates, seizes the link It as shown in Fig. 14, andthen rotates back, so as to place the link It in its proper ositlon inrelation to the previously forme links k, as shown n Fig. 15, the chainbein dro ped to the extent of one link. While t 118 adjustment of thelink h is taking place the chain is held by a gripper 4 (hi 1). Thegripper 2 has a ongitudinnl cmnnel, throu h which is thrust a thin shank'i, and the inks are bent about this shank, so that a longitudinalcentral cavity is formed within the chain, to increase the mobility ofthe links.

' As shown in Fig. 16, the wire cut off by the saw t may also be bent toform a U- shaped blank 9 with limbs of equal length. For this purposetwo uide cheeks f of equal len th are provi ed. The blank is inserteinto an 8-shaped link It, as shown in Fig. 17, and the limbs are benttogether to make a central joint and form an elon ated link, g as shownin Fig. 18. This lin is then twisted, as previously described, and thecentral joint need not be soldered before the twisting takes place. Thebendin of the limbs of equal length is performed y means of two jaws m,which press the limbs about a short-shank k, as shown in Figs. 19 and20, the joint being closed by means of a presser n, as shown in Fig. 21.The-actuation of the grippers is effected by means of levers'and cams ina manner well known in connection with this class of machine, the griprs being moved in one direction by the sat levers and cams, and in theother direction by springs.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent of theUnited States is 1. A chain-making machine comprising means for bendinga wire blank into U shape, a holder for an 8-shaped link, means saidlimbs through said eyes, and means for twisting said inserted blank tothe shape of the figire 8.

chain-making machine comprising means for bending a wire blank into U- aholder for an vl-shaped link, means for inserting the limbs of a U-shaed blank through the eyes of a link hel by said holder, means forbending together the limbs of a U-shaped blank after'insertion of saidlimbs through said eyes, an a pliance for soldering the joint made bygether said limbs and means for twisting said inserted blank to theshape of the fig ure 8.

3. A chain-making machine comprising means for bending a Wire blankinto'U- shape, a holder for an 8-shaped link, means for inserting thelimbs of a U-shaped blank through the eyes of a link held by said shape,

holder, means for bending together the limbs of a til-shaped blank afterinsertionof said limbs through said eyes, a shank arranged to extendbetween the limbs of said blank while said blank is held by said holder,and means for twisting said blank to the shape offithe figure 8.

i. A chain-making machine comprising an axially movable gripper, meansfor bend- 1n gripper, a second grip er adapted to seize and hold an-shaped link arran ed so that the limbs of a. blank held by saifirst-"menending tointo U-shape a wire blank held. by said roe-easetioned gripper can be inserted throughthe eyes of a link held by saidsecond gripper, means for bending together the limbs of a U-shaped blankafter insertion of said limbs through said eyes, a third gripper adaptedto seize said blank after the bending together of its limbs, and meansfor rotating said first and third grippers in opposite directions forthe purpose of twisting the blank into h-shape.

5. A chain-making machine comprising an axially movable gripper, meansfor bending into U-shape a wire blank held by said 5 W gripper, asecond-gripper adapted to seize and hold an h-shaped link arranged sothat the limbs of a blank held by said first-mentioned gripper can beinserted through the eyes of a link held by said second gripper, meansfor bending together the limbs of a U-shaped blank after insertion ofsaid limbs through-said eyes, a third gripper adapted to seize saidblank after the bending together of its limbs, means for rotating saidfirst and third grippers in opposite directions for the purpose oftwisting the blank into e-shape, and a fourth gripper adapted to supportthe chain while the second-men tioned gripper seizes the freshly formed8- shaped link.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FRIEDRICH SPEIDEL.

Witnesses:

FRANZ Torre, Josnrn Nnrrrnn.

